Closing apparatus for closing pharmaceutical containers, and system for processing pharmaceutical containers

Abstract

An apparatus for closing pharmaceutical containers with closure elements, and a system for processing pharmaceutical containers. The closure elements include a first face and a second face. The apparatus includes a feed unit with a feed path in which closure elements can be fed separately without contacting the first face; a receiving body with a receptacle for the closure element, the closure element transferrable from the feed path into a receiving position in the receptacle; a device for turning the receiving body from an initial position into an end position and transferring the closure element from the receiving position into a placed position in which the closure element is positioned on the container or at a distance to the container such that the first face points toward the container interior; and a monitoring device adapted to monitor the receiving body for presence of a closure element in the receptacle.

1 . A closing apparatus for closing pharmaceutical containers with closure elements, wherein the closure elements comprise a first face and a second face and, when each container is closed with one of the closure elements, the first face faces a container interior and the second face faces away from the container interior, the closing apparatus comprising:
 a feed unit with a feed path in which closure elements are feedable separately and at least partly without contacting the first face, a receiving body with a receptacle for the closure element, wherein the closure element is transferrable from the feed path into a receiving position in the receptacle, and a turning device for turning the receiving body from an initial position into an end position and transferring the closure element from the receiving position into a placed position in which the closure element is positioned on the container or at a distance from the container such that the first face points toward the container interior,   wherein the closing apparatus comprises a monitoring device being adapted to monitor whether a closure element has been transferred into the receptacle of the receiving body.   
     
     
         2 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
 in the feed path, the first face of the closure element is directed upward, wherein the feed path is free at the top; and   in the feed path, the second face of the closure element rests on a base of the feed path.   
     
     
         3 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing apparatus comprises an insertion element via which the closure element arranged at one end of the feed path is insertable into the receptacle when the receiving body is in the initial position, with the second face of the closure element is able to be acted upon via the insertion element by an insertion force in the direction of the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the first face of the closure element is free of contact with the insertion element and/or wherein the insertion element pushes the closure element upward into the receptacle of the receiving body. 
     
     
         5 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
 the receptacle comprises an insertion opening and an outlet opening opposite thereto for the closure element, wherein the closure element is movable through the insertion opening into the receptacle via the insertion element and through the outlet opening out of the receptacle;   the receptacle is sleeve-shaped and comprises a lateral aperture which is directed in the direction of the feed path when the receiving body is in the initial position.   
     
     
         6 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing apparatus comprises a blocking device arranged on the feed path having a blocking member adapted to be displaced transversely to the feed path so as to block the feed path when a closure element is inserted from the feed path into the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device monitors a presence of the closure element in the receptacle before or during turning the receiving body from the initial position to the end position and/or in the placed position before the closure element is lowered onto the container. 
     
     
         8 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, if the monitoring device determines that a closure element is missing in the receptacle, a movement of the receiving body out of the initial position is suspended, or the receiving body it is moved back into the initial position. 
     
     
         9 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing apparatus comprises an insertion element via which the closure element arranged at one end of the feed path is insertable into the receptacle when the receiving body is in the initial position, and wherein the insertion element corresponding to a receptacle void of a closure element is selectively activatable in order to move a missing closure element into the receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the feed unit comprises a plurality of feed paths, the receiving body comprises a plurality of receptacles and the closing apparatus a plurality of insertion elements, a feed path and an insertion element being assigned to a respective receptacle, and wherein when the monitoring device determines that a closure element is already present in a receptacle the insertion element assigned to the receptacle is not actuated. 
     
     
         11 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the feed unit comprises a plurality of feed paths, the receiving body comprises a plurality of receptacles and the closing apparatus a plurality of insertion elements, and wherein it is provided that one or more insertion element are selectively actuatable so as to selectively transfer one or more closure elements into the respective receptacles. 
     
     
         12 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device is an optical monitoring device. 
     
     
         13 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing apparatus comprises a further monitoring device with which the closure element is checkable for its presence and/or correct seat on the container. 
     
     
         14 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the further monitoring device is an optical monitoring device. 
     
     
         15 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the closing apparatus comprises an insertion element via which the closure element arranged at one end of the feed path is insertable into the receptacle when the receiving body is in the initial position, wherein a closure element for the container void of a closure element is placed in the receiving body by selective activation of the insertion element. 
     
     
         16 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the feed unit comprises a plurality of feed paths, the receiving body comprises a plurality of receptacles and the closing apparatus a plurality of insertion elements, a feed path and an insertion element being assigned to a respective receptacle, and wherein other insertion elements remain deactivated so as to not insert a closure element into the receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein a container having a closure element incorrectly placed thereon is discharged from or via the transport device. 
     
     
         18 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a configuration of the closing apparatus for simultaneously closing a plurality of containers with a respective closure element is provided. 
     
     
         19 . The closing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure elements are mushroom plugs, plunger stoppers, crimp-stopper caps or crimp caps. 
     
     
         20 . A system for processing pharmaceutical containers being vials, syringes and/or carpules, comprising a transport device for transporting the containers along at least one transport direction, a filling station arranged at the transport device for filling a pharmaceutical substance into the containers, and a closing apparatus, arranged downstream of the filling station in the transport direction, for closing the containers after filling with closure elements, wherein the closure elements comprise a first face and a second face and, when the container is closed with the closure element, the first face faces a container interior and the second face faces away from the container interior, wherein the closing apparatus comprise a feed unit with a feed path in which closure elements are feedable separately and at least partly without contacting the first face, a receiving body with a receptacle for the closure element, wherein the closure element is transferrable from the feed path into a receiving position in the receptacle, and a turning device for turning the receiving body from an initial position into an end position and transferring the closure element from the receiving position into a placed position in which the closure element is positioned on the container or at a distance from the container such that the first face points in the direction of the container interior
 wherein the closing apparatus comprises a monitoring device being adapted to monitor whether a closure element has been transferred into the receptacle of the receiving body.